Bucs will rotate RBs

Tampa Bay Bucs

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams, fresh off his second off-season knee surgery in two years, was placed atop the Bucs depth chart on Monday.

The news came as somewhat of a surprise to Williams, whom many figured to be the backup tailback this year after the Bucs went out and signed free agent Derrick Ward, a 1,000-yards rusher last year for the New York Giants.

Williams first heard the news from his mother.

"What can I say?" Williams said. My mother is a big football fan."

That, however, doesn't mean the Auburn product is going to be carrying the brunt of the load for the Bucs.

New head coach Raheem Morris has a plan. And, while he's not divulging too much of that plan, you can expect to see fresh legs rotating in and out of the Tampa Bay offensive backfield Sunday when the Bucs host the Dallas Cowboys in season opener.

The New York Giants employed a running back rotation last year that saw Brandon Jacobs (1,089) and Derrick Ward (1,025) both surpass 1,000 yards rushing for the season. Morris seems to have a similar plan in mind. Ward is now in the Bucs backfield, second on the depth chart, while last year's starter Earnest Graham is also back there at No. 3 running back and No. 2 fullback.

"I know right now it's a running back by committee," Williams told PewterReport.com. "I'm fine with that, but I also know Coach Morris is going to go with the hot guy."

Morris even plans to use kick returner Clifton Smith and No. 1 fullback B.J. Askew in situational parts of the rotation.

"We're going to work them all in there, let's just say that. We don't want to give Dallas too much, but they'll get a chance to see all the backs that will be active," Morris said Tuesday. "We'll have them all up, including Peanut [Clifton Smith], the big three and B.J. They'll all be out there contributing to try to win against the Cowboys."

Graham carried most of the load last season, rushing for 563 yards on 132 carries until getting injured in Week 11. The former Florida Gator, however, is fine with sharing the load.

"I could care less about if I run the first play or whatever. I know I'm going to play quite a bit and I know I'm going to be counted on quite a bit. That's really what it's all about," Graham said.

The Bucs plan looks like what they call the 2-2-1 plan, where Williams goes two series, Ward goes two series and Graham goes one, and then Morris will assess the progress.